✔️ Added course to cart
Schedule
Learning Area
Instructor

Jain Philosophy, History & Anthropology

Self-paced
Self-paced
Self-paced
Self-paced
Self-paced
Self-paced
Self-paced
Self-paced

2006 | Discovering Jain Philosophy with All Your Senses

$99.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

2006 | Discovering Jain Philosophy with All Your Senses

Modern life’s formal education, Western religious and philosophical systems as well as medical and social sciences make us have the impression that our soul, mind and body work separately, do not quite affect each other, and that mind rules everything. In the popular imagination, philosophy and religion are the places for the mind whereas the gym or doctor’s office are the places for the body. On the path to liberation, Jain dharma shows that soul, mind and body are integrated and that bodily conduct directly affects one’s incarnated spiritual journey. The field of the Anthropology of Senses, in its turn, has shown us that our engagement with specific material environments and practices – whether they are architectural aspects, icons, clothing, food, and other bodily aspects in daily life – shape our perceptions and conceptions about the world we live in, through processes of which we are not always aware, helping or preventing us from reaching true knowledge.The combination of Jain philosophy, explanations, and practices within the framework of the Anthropology of Senses provides means for unveiling daily (perceived as natural) knowledge-obscuring practices, which lead us to distorted perceptions about life and what we are doing here. The course aims to lead participants to an auto-observation regarding how they learn what they learn by exploring how an Anthropology of the Senses both informs, and is informed by, Jain tradition.
$99.00 USD

Instructor

Self-paced

2007 | Mokṣa-māḷā & the Movement of Śrīmad Rājcandra: Part 1

$99.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

2007 | Mokṣa-māḷā & the Movement of Śrīmad Rājcandra: Part 1

Śrīmad Rājcandra (1867-1901) was an important Jain Saint of the late 19th and early 20th centuries who founded a distinct and modern, yet also in many ways quite orthodox, movement of Jainism. While Śrīmad and his followers followed many mainstream Jain teachings and practices, his teachings and the tradition that grew from them are distinct with regards to their emphasis on nonsectarianism, the ability to attain self-realization as a profound experience of one’s spiritual essence in this life or shortly thereafter, understanding of liberation as an attainable goal within 15 lifetimes, a critique of contemporary institutions of mendicancy, and the uniqueness of a bourgeoning lay movement where lay practitioners are the primary source of spiritual authority—a feature that has been widely appealing to Jain lay practitioners. The first half of this two-part course will examine how the events of Śrīmad’s life gave shape to this movement and will look at the philosophical underpinnings of Śrīmad’s tradition based on the Mokṣa-māḷā, a Gujarati text that he composed in 1887, at the age of 20, the same year that he was married, and several years before he attained self-realization and renounced worldly life. In the first half of this course, we will focus primarily on how Śrīmad’s philosophy was informed by notable events in his life, and how in turn these events and this philosophy have influenced the development of the Raj Bhakta Marg, the tradition that has developed from this important modern Jain guru. Learning Objectives:Learn the basic biographical outline of the life of Śrīmad Rajcandra.Understand the social and biographical events that led to the development of the Raj Bhakta Marga.Examine key features of the Raj Bhakta Marga that make it a unique modern Jain movement.
$99.00 USD

Instructor

Self-paced

2008 | Mokṣa-māḷā & the Movement of Śrīmad Rājcandra: Part 2

$99.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

2008 | Mokṣa-māḷā & the Movement of Śrīmad Rājcandra: Part 2

As we have seen in the first half of this course, Śrīmad Rājcandra was an important Jain Saint of the late 19th and early 20th centuries who founded adistinct and modern, yet also in many ways quite orthodox, movement of Jainism known as the Raj Bhakta Marg. In the first half of this course, we focused primarily on how Śrīmad Rājcandra’s (1867-1901) philosophy was informed by notable events in his life, and how in turn these events and this philosophy have influenced the development of the Raj Bhakta Marg. In the second half of this class we will examine the features of Śrīmad’s philosophy in greater depth based primarily on the writings of the Mokṣa-māḷā (1887), but occasionally examining his Ātma-siddhi Śāstra (1896) as well. Moreover, we will examine the central concept of guru bhakti and discuss the importance of understanding Jain bhakti both within Śrīmad’s thought and tradition,but also within Jainism more broadly. We will closely examine how Śrīmad discussed various features of spiritual practice such as the importance of mantra recitation, sāmāyika and dhyāna meditation, and other practices intended to remove one’s karma and give one a direct experience of one’s spiritual essence. Finally, we will unpack the concise and elegant arguments that Śrīmad offers for the existence of an eternal soul—all discussions intended to both edify and inspire practitioners to dedicate themselves to an ardent spiritual practice where one might hope to attain self-realization and even liberation within 15 lifetimes—a significantly more attainable and immediate goal than what is often understood by many in the Jain tradition.  Learning Objectives:Read and reflect on the teachings of Śrīmad’s Mokṣa-māḷā regarding themes of self-realization, bhakti, religious practices, and philosophical discourses including logical proofs for the existence of a soul.Understand the importance of Śrīmad’s emphasis of attaining self-realization and liberation, and how this relates to understanding him as a reformer or a revivalist.Examining key features of bhakti, especially guru bhakti, in the Śrīmad tradition and how this might inform a broader understanding of the importance and role of bhakti in the Jain tradition more broadly.Examine key features of religious practice advocated by Śrīmad and widely practiced by his followers including mantra recitation, sāmāyika, dhyāna, and guru-bhakti.Take time to reflect on philosophical principles of Śrīmad and applicability into daily life.Inquire into the deeper meanings and implications of the Śrīmad’s teachings in dialogue with other Jain teachings and other religious traditions.
$99.00 USD

Instructor

Self-paced
Self-paced

2010 | Research Sanskrit: Level 1

$99.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

2010 | Research Sanskrit: Level 1

** This asynchronous, "self-study" course is self-paced and without live instruction. It is best suited for those who have some familiarity with Sanskrit or experience in learning other languages. For those wishing to study in a scheduled, live setting with a university professor, please enroll in 2012 | University Sanskrit 1 Live ** Competency with Sanskrit translation is a key skill for academics in the field of South Asian Studies. It is one of the most important research skills that provides scholars access to resources that are the object of their research. It is also a skill that, when demonstrated with translations in one's publications, gives a great deal of credibility to the academic work of scholars. Sanskrit can also be very helpful to strengthen and deepen one's connection to one's own spiritual tradition. For most Dharma traditions (Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Yoga), Sanskrit is often the medium of liturgical practices, and Sanskrit texts which tend to form the doctrinal, philosophical, and practical foundation for individual and collective spiritual practices in those traditions. Dharma traditions are deep reservoirs of spiritual wisdom that have the power to transform us personally and collectively in profound ways, and Sanskrit is one of the most important keys to unlocking that great reservoir of ancient spiritual wisdom that is much needed in our own personal lives, and in our collective society at large. In this self-study course, students will gain the important research skills necessary to translate Sanskrit texts by translating modified excerpts from Sanskrit literature. These research skills include basic philology such as etymology, the ability to identify inflexions and grammatical forms, and syntactical analyses. Asynchronous Sanskrit Training2010 | Research Sanskrit: Level 1 is a self-study, asynchronous course. It is the first of a two course series (2010 | Research Sanskrit: Level 1 and 2011 | Research Sanskrit: Level 2) offered by Professor Cogen Bohanec, MA, PhD and Arihanta Institute. Upon completion of both courses, students can expect to complete the Devavāṇīpraveśikā Sanskrit primer (Goldman and Goldman, 1980). In the process, students will learn to memorize, recognize, and recall all major paradigms of inflection (conjugations, declensions, indeclinable suffixes, prefixes, etc.) and use these skills when translating, reading, memorizing, or liturgically reciting Sanskrit texts. The option of asynchronous Sanskrit training is intended as an accessible learning option for self-motivated students who thrive in a self-paced learning environment. Students can move through the course material at their own pace, based on their ability and schedule. Since there are no live classes or synchronous instruction, and given the complexity of the subject matter, students will derive most benefit if they have previously studied Sanskrit, or if they are strongly committed to a daily routine of continued self-study over the course of a year or two, or perhaps longer (keeping in mind that when learning a new language, one should work through a primer more than once). This course may also be useful as a supplement for Sanskrit students who are enrolled in a Sanskrit studies university program, particularly if that course is using the Devavāṇīpraveśikā as a primer. Here, the two course series - 2010 | Research Sanskrit: Level 1 and 2011 | Research Sanskrit: Level 2 - can serve as a tutorial for research skills in basic philology (see “Learning Objectives” section below).  Additionally, students who have previously participated in a Sanskrit program and are looking for a practical review, this course series provides a succinct and comprehensive opportunity to reinforce the necessary skills.Learning ObjectivesLearn to read Sanskrit in Devanagari font.Acquire basic Sanskrit vocabulary.Learn to identify and understand the basic grammatical forms covered in class.Learn to understand key differences between Sanskrit and English syntaxes and to be able to convert Sanskrit syntax into English syntax.Learn basic skills for translation of Sanskrit primary sources for researchBecome familiarized with other cultural and intellectual elements of the broader Sanskrit tradition.
$99.00 USD

Instructor

Self-paced

2011 | Research Sanskrit: Level 2

$99.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

2011 | Research Sanskrit: Level 2

** This asynchronous, "self-study" course is the second level of self-paced Sanskrit and without live instruction. It is best suited for those who have completed 2010 Research Sanskrit: Level 1 and have some familiarity with Sanskrit or experience in learning other languages.**Competency with Sanskrit translation is a key skill for academics in the field of South Asian Studies. It is one of the most important research skills that provides scholars access to resources that are the object of their research. It is also a skill that, when demonstrated with translations in one's publications, gives a great deal of credibility to the academic work of scholars. Sanskrit can also be very helpful to strengthen and deepen one's connection to one's own spiritual tradition. For most Dharma traditions (Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Yoga), Sanskrit is often the medium of liturgical practices, and Sanskrit texts which tend to form the doctrinal, philosophical, and practical foundation for individual and collective spiritual practices in those traditions. Dharma traditions are deep reservoirs of spiritual wisdom that have the power to transform us personally and collectively in profound ways, and Sanskrit is one of the most important keys to unlocking that great reservoir of ancient spiritual wisdom that is much needed in our own personal lives, and in our collective society at large. In this self-study course, students will gain the important research skills necessary to translate Sanskrit texts by actually translating modified excerpts from Sanskrit literature. These research skills include basic philology such as etymology, the ability to identify inflexions and grammatical forms, and syntactical analyses.  Asynchronous Sanskrit Training2011 | Research Sanskrit: Level 2 is a self-study, asynchronous course. It is the second of a two course series (2010 | Research Sanskrit: Level 1 and 2011 | Research Sanskrit: Level 2) offered by Professor Cogen Bohanec, MA, PhD and Arihanta Institute. Upon completion of both of these courses, students can expect to complete the Devavāṇīpraveśikā Sanskrit primer (Goldman and Goldman, 1980). In the process, students will learn to memorize, recognize, and recall all major paradigms of inflection (conjugations, declensions, indeclinable suffixes, prefixes, etc.) and use these skills when translating, reading, memorizing, or liturgically reciting Sanskrit texts. The option of asynchronous Sanskrit training is intended as an accessible learning option for self-motivated students who thrive in a self-paced learning environment. Students can move through the course material at their own pace, based on their own ability and schedule. Since there are no live classes or synchronous instruction in this course, and given the complexity of the subject matter, students will derive most benefit from this course if they have already studied Sanskrit in a previous course, or if they are strongly committed to a daily routine of continued self-study over the course of at least a year or two, or perhaps longer (keeping in mind that when learning a new language, one should work through a primer more than once).  This course may also be useful as a supplement for Sanskrit students who are enrolled in a Sanskrit studies university program, particularly if that course is using the Devavāṇīpraveśikā as a primer. Here, the two course series - 2010 | Research Sanskrit: Level 1 and 2011 | Research Sanskrit: Level 2 - can serve as a tutorial for research skills in basic philology (see “Learning Objectives” section below).  Additionally, students who have previously participated in a Sanskrit program and are looking for a practical review, this course series provides a succinct and comprehensive opportunity to reinforce the necessary skills. Learning ObjectivesLearn to read Sanskrit in Devanagari font.Acquire basic Sanskrit vocabulary.Learn to identify and understand the basic grammatical forms covered in class.Learn to understand key differences between Sanskrit and English syntaxes  and to be able to convert Sanskrit syntax into English syntax.Learn basic skills for translation of Sanskrit primary sources for research.Become familiarized with other cultural and intellectual elements of the broader Sanskrit tradition.
$99.00 USD

Instructor

Live Online

2012 | University Sanskrit 1 Live

$500.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

2012 | University Sanskrit 1 Live

**This synchronous, "live" online course is a university length (16-week) seminar for those wishing to study Sanskrit in a scheduled, live setting with a university professor (class meets twice a week, Mondays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. - 10:55 a.m. Pacific). For those looking to study in a self-paced, asynchronous course, please enroll in 2010 | Research Sanskrit: Level 1 ** In this course, which is the first of a two course series, students will complete the equivalent of their first semester of graduate level Sanskrit. Students will gain necessary competency for Sanskrit 1 as well as the important research skills necessary to translate Sanskrit texts by translating modified excerpts from Sanskrit literature. These research skills include basic philology such as etymology, the ability to identify inflexions and grammatical forms, and syntactical analyses. This course will be divided into two sections. Upon completion of both of these sections, we will have completed the Devavāṇīpraveśikā Sanskrit primer (Goldman and Goldman, 1980). In the process, students will learn to memorize, recognize, and recall all major paradigms of inflection (conjugations, declensions, indeclinable suffixes, prefixes, etc.) and use these skills when translating, reading, memorizing, or liturgically reciting Sanskrit texts. Competency with Sanskrit translation is a key skill for academics in the field of South Asian Studies. It is one of the most important research skills that gives scholars access to resources that are the object of their research, and it is also a skill that, when demonstrated with translations in one’s publications, gives a great deal of much needed credibility to the academic work of scholars. Sanskrit can also be very helpful to strengthen and deepen one’s connection to one’s own spiritual tradition. For most Dharma traditions (Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism), Sanskrit is often the medium of liturgical practices, and Sanskrit texts also tend to form the doctrinal, philosophical, and practical foundation for individual and collective spiritual practices in those traditions. Dharma traditions are deep reservoirs of spiritual wisdom that have the power to transform us personally and collectively in profound ways, and Sanskrit is on one of the most important keys to unlocking that great reservoir of ancient spiritual wisdom that is much needed in our own personal lives, and in our collective society at large. Learning ObjectivesLearn to read Sanskrit in Devanagari font.Acquire basic Sanskrit vocabulary.Learn to identify and understand the basic grammatical forms covered in class.Learn to understand key differences between Sanskrit and English syntaxes and to be able to convert Sanskrit syntax into English syntax.Learn basic skills for translation of Sanskrit primary sources for researchBecome familiarized with other cultural and intellectual elements of the broader Sanskrit tradition.
16-week Course: Aug. 26 - Dec. 9, 2024
$500.00 USD

Instructor

Upcoming

2013 | University Sanskrit 2 Live

$500.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

2013 | University Sanskrit 2 Live

**This synchronous, "live" online course is a university length (16-week) seminar for those wishing to study Sanskrit in a scheduled, live setting with a university professor (class meets twice a week, Mondays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. - 10:55 a.m. Pacific). For those looking to study in a self-paced, asynchronous course, please enroll in 2011 | Research Sanskrit: Level 2** In this course, which is Part 2 of 2 (see Course 2012 for first part), students will complete the equivalent of their second semester of graduate level Sanskrit. Students will gain necessary competency for Sanskrit 2 as well as the important research skills necessary to translate Sanskrit texts by translating modified excerpts from Sanskrit literature. These research skills include basic philology such as etymology, the ability to identify inflexions and grammatical forms, and syntactical analyses. Upon completion of this course (and its prerequisite Course 2012), we will have completed the Devavāṇīpraveśikā Sanskrit primer (Goldman and Goldman, 1980). In the process, students will learn to memorize, recognize, and recall all major paradigms of inflection (conjugations, declensions, indeclinable suffixes, prefixes, etc.) and use these skills when translating, reading, memorizing, or liturgically reciting Sanskrit texts. Competency with Sanskrit translation is a key skill for academics in the field of South Asian Studies. It is one of the most important research skills that gives scholars access to resources that are the object of their research, and it is also a skill that, when demonstrated with translations in one’s publications, gives a great deal of much needed credibility to the academic work of scholars. Sanskrit can also be very helpful to strengthen and deepen one’s connection to one’s own spiritual tradition. For most Dharma traditions (Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism), Sanskrit is often the medium of liturgical practices, and Sanskrit texts also tend to form the doctrinal, philosophical, and practical foundation for individual and collective spiritual practices in those traditions. Dharma traditions are deep reservoirs of spiritual wisdom that have the power to transform us personally and collectively in profound ways, and Sanskrit is on one of the most important keys to unlocking that great reservoir of ancient spiritual wisdom that is much needed in our own personal lives, and in our collective society at large. Learning Objectives:1. Learn to read Sanskrit in Devanagari font.2. Acquire basic Sanskrit vocabulary.3. Learn to identify and understand the basic grammatical forms covered in class.4. Learn to understand key differences between Sanskrit and English syntaxes and to be able to convert Sanskrit syntax into English syntax.5. Learn basic skills for translation of Sanskrit primary sources for research.6. Become familiarized with other cultural and intellectual elements of the broader Sanskrit tradition.
16-week Course: Feb. 10 - May 16, 2025
$500.00 USD

Instructor

Self-paced
Self-paced

3007 | Ancient and Classical Jain Yoga

$99.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

3007 | Ancient and Classical Jain Yoga

This course provides an in-depth exploration of yoga and meditation as understood within ancient and classical Jain scriptures. In Part 1: Ancient Jain Yoga, students will be introduced to foundational concepts such as āsana, or physical postures, as a tool for purification and meditation. Drawing from early Jain texts, including the Uttarādhyayanasūtra and the Daśavaikālikasūtra, students will learn how restraint of the body, mind, and speech formed early Jain definitions of yoga.  Part 2: Yoga and Meditation in Classical Jain Philosophy, transitions into an examination of the Tattvārthsūtra and its commentaries, where yoga is described as the inflow (āsrava) of karma—representing an obstacle to spiritual liberation. Students will explore the key to liberation through correct worldview, knowledge, and conduct, as well as the role of dhyāna (meditation) as both an austerity (tapas) and a means of wearing away (nirjarā) karma. Through a discussion of virtuous (dharma) and pure (śukla) meditation, the course will highlight how advanced meditation practices lead to spiritual purification and the elimination of karma, providing a comprehensive understanding of Jain yoga's ultimate aim of mokṣa, or liberation. This is designed as a two-week course that will take approximately 4 hours to complete, and includes readings and a series of 10 lectures to guide you through the intricacies of ancient and classical Jain definitions of Yoga. Learning Objectives:Learn the role of āsana (physical postures) in ancient Jain yoga as a tool for purification and meditation.Discover how restraint of body, mind, and speech formed early Jain definitions of yoga, with guidance from key ancient texts.Explore the classical Jain philosophical view of yoga as the inflow (āsrava) of karma, and see how this concept is discussed in the Tattvārthsūtra and its commentaries.Understand how meditation (dhyāna) serves as an austerity (tapas) to wear away karma (nirjarā) and how virtuous (dharma) and pure (śukla) meditation practices lead to spiritual purification and liberation (mokṣa).
$99.00 USD

Instructor

Animal Advocacy & Biodiversity

Self-paced
Self-paced

111 | Animal-Centered Design

$99.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

111 | Animal-Centered Design

Non-human animals are routinely used for profit or product, and as a result, suffer greatly in our society. Animal sanctuaries provide a glimpse of a different world; one in which animals are provided with protected spaces and treated as equals. A new initiative is taking shape that can aid sanctuaries, and individuals, in their goal of bettering animals' lives: Animal-Centered Design (ACD). In this course you will learn the basic principles of ACD, study examples of it in action within sanctuary settings, and consider how ACD can be applied to companion animals and beyond. This course will also touch on passive solar design, focusing on how proper orientation to the natural elements can benefit both animals and our environment. Readings and assignments are provided throughout the course to engage you directly in the animal sanctuary design process and to inspire you to make a positive change for animals.A portion of the proceeds for this course support Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge.Learning Objectives: Class 1: Introduction to Farmed Animal SanctuariesClass 2: Principles of Animal-Centered DesignClass 3: Precedents in Animal-Centered DesignClass 4: Case Study I-Designing Spaces for GoatsClass 5: Case Study II-Designing Spaces for DucksClass 6: Animal-Centered Design for Companion AnimalsClass 7: Passive Solar Design Strategies for Animal Spaces
$99.00 USD

Instructors

Self-paced
Self-paced
Self-paced

1015 | Debunking the Myth of Sustainable and Humane Animal Agriculture

$25.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

1015 | Debunking the Myth of Sustainable and Humane Animal Agriculture

In this course, we will focus on the “greenwashing” and “humanewashing” by animal agriculture. “Greenwashing” is based on the different ways that animal agriculture pretends it is sustainable when it is not; “humanewashing” refers to the different ways that animal agriculture pretends it treats animals well, when it does not. In reality, animal agriculture is one of the single largest drivers of climate change and one of the most cruel industries imaginable; however, much like the tobacco industry and the fossil fuel industries before it, animal agriculture has responded to this reality not by enacting any substantive changes, but by relying on “tricks” of communication, including public relations, media relations, marketing, and even attempts to influence scholarship on the topic to confuse the public and hide their destructive practices. In this course, we will debunk these rhetorical tricks and expose the reality of the harms animal agriculture is causing to both animals and our planet. This course should be of benefit to any activist, policy maker, or person concerned about climate change, environmental destruction, or animal suffering. Course Details6 hours of recorded video contentWeekly readings for self-studyAccess to class materials begins Monday, August 5, 20244 scheduled Live Q&A sessions with Professor Stanescu on August 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 9AM to 10AM Pacific + Bonus Session Sept. 6!
$25.00 USD

Instructor

Live Online

1017 | Beasts & Beliefs: Animals and the Origins of Vegetarianism in the Ancient West

$25.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

1017 | Beasts & Beliefs: Animals and the Origins of Vegetarianism in the Ancient West

While the study of certain aspects of the ancient world may derive from mere intellectual curiosity, the study of other aspects is absolutely essential for our understanding of current social, political, and environmental circumstances. The latter dynamic is certainly the case with the history of ancient ideas about “the human” and “the animal.” These ideas, taken up and developed over centuries by Christian theologians and humanist philosophers, have shaped the radically anthropocentric worldview of Western nations. Most Europeans and North Americans are simply unconcerned with how we torture and kill billions of animals each year. They live, without knowing it, in a mental universe constructed by a handful of Greek and Roman philosophers. To escape this universe, it is useful and perhaps even necessary to know what Chrysippus, Epicurus, Cicero, or Saint Augustine said about animals and humans’ interactions with them. The objective of this course is to study—alongside the many pleas of the vegetarian philosophers of antiquity—the incomplete but triumphant responses of their carnist adversaries.  Course Details6 hours of recorded video contentWeekly readings for self-study4 scheduled, 60-minute Live Q&A sessions with Professor Larue on November 22 and 29, December 6 and 13 from 9AM to 10AM PacificCourse Materials will be available beginning Monday, November 18, 2024
Live 4-week Course: Nov. 18 - Dec. 13, 2024
$25.00 USD

Instructor

Climate Change & Environment

Self-paced
Self-paced

1008 | Jain Responses to Climate Change

Added to cart

1008 | Jain Responses to Climate Change

Arihanta Institute is offering this course in collaboration with Museum Rietberg, coinciding with their Exhibition “Being Jain: Art and Culture of an Indian Religion” in Zurich, Switzerland.Climate change is arguably the biggest collective challenge human society has ever encountered. But there is hope. Among many of the innovative solutions that have and continue to be proposed, the Jain tradition encourages an environmentally sustainable lifestyle, which, if incorporated into our daily lives worldwide, could have a significant impact in reducing the worst of the climate disaster that is yet to come. Learn the Jain way of life in conversation with some of climate change’s most pressing issues. Leave transformed and empowered to reduce your climate footprint.Class 1Jainism and Ecology: Recognizing the Interconnected Web of LifeLearn how the Jain tradition views the world as an interconnected web of life in which nothing wants to experience pain. Understand how the Jain principle of ahiṃsā, or non-violence, arises from this worldview and some of the fundamental ways you can reduce your carbon footprint by following the Jain way of life and in accordance with climate science.Class 2Jain Approaches to Food: Climate Change & Animal AgricultureThe IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) recently advised that in light of the effects of animal agriculture on the climate, the entire planet must be “veganised.” Learn, in light of climate science, why animal agriculture is one of the most significant contributors to climate change and environmental degradation. Also study Jain approaches to an ethical and environmentally friendly diet that call into question our unnecessary reliance on animals for food.Class 3Jain Views on Consumption and Waste: A Changing Climate requires Changing HabitsHumans consume food, electronics, fuel and other commodities at rates far beyond what our planet can sustain in the long run and which amount to significant amounts of environmental degradation. Discover what the acceptable limits of consumption are, and also consider Jain ethical approaches to the human behavior of consumption. Be inspired to reconsider your own consumptive habits.Class 4Jain Professional Ethics: Making a Climate-Friendly LivingWe all need to make a living, but what would it mean to make a “climate-friendly” living? Learn Jain ethical approaches to career and professional life, and understand the important connections between the work that you do and its potential effects on the climate. Be inspired to make a righteous living that is good for both you and our climate future.
Free

Instructor

Self-paced
Self-paced
Self-paced

1015 | Debunking the Myth of Sustainable and Humane Animal Agriculture

$25.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

1015 | Debunking the Myth of Sustainable and Humane Animal Agriculture

In this course, we will focus on the “greenwashing” and “humanewashing” by animal agriculture. “Greenwashing” is based on the different ways that animal agriculture pretends it is sustainable when it is not; “humanewashing” refers to the different ways that animal agriculture pretends it treats animals well, when it does not. In reality, animal agriculture is one of the single largest drivers of climate change and one of the most cruel industries imaginable; however, much like the tobacco industry and the fossil fuel industries before it, animal agriculture has responded to this reality not by enacting any substantive changes, but by relying on “tricks” of communication, including public relations, media relations, marketing, and even attempts to influence scholarship on the topic to confuse the public and hide their destructive practices. In this course, we will debunk these rhetorical tricks and expose the reality of the harms animal agriculture is causing to both animals and our planet. This course should be of benefit to any activist, policy maker, or person concerned about climate change, environmental destruction, or animal suffering. Course Details6 hours of recorded video contentWeekly readings for self-studyAccess to class materials begins Monday, August 5, 20244 scheduled Live Q&A sessions with Professor Stanescu on August 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 9AM to 10AM Pacific + Bonus Session Sept. 6!
$25.00 USD

Instructor

Self-paced

Yoga, Self-care and Spirituality

Self-paced

110 | Rhythm of Life

$99.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

110 | Rhythm of Life

Take a journey within, to understand better your values, beliefs and desires. Everything in the universe has a rhythm, the sun rises and sets, the phases of the moon, the ebb and flow of tides, the changing of seasons, similarly human life has ups and downs, delight and despair, love and loneliness, health and disease, abundance and lack and so on. But we forget this and at times we feel stuck in our suffering, or we question our own self-worth, we feel lost, disconnected with our inner resources and guidance and life starts feeling like it has gotten off course. The Rhythm of Life program offers you a space to reflect, learn and discover your own rhythm and take charge in your life to experience greater fulfilment, connection, healing, restoration, and harmony in life.The program is based on the Jain principle “Jina- Be a Conqueror of the self” applied to a householder lifestyle. With better understanding of our true self, we can evolve, overcome ourobstacles and limiting beliefs, and take charge of our overall well-being and happiness. There are 4 main modules in this course, which bring together various Indian philosophical traditions with a special emphasis on Jain philosophy, modern scientific research, and real life experiences.Learning Objectives:1. Develop a toolkit to lead a happier and holistic life.2. Understand human suffering and its purpose in our lives.3. Become more conscious of values-based living.4. Redesign beliefs to harmonize your inner and outer worlds.5. Create new habits to become the best version of yourself.
$99.00 USD

Instructors

Self-paced
Self-paced

3004 | Modern Yoga Studies: Critical History, Anthropology and Methodology

$99.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

3004 | Modern Yoga Studies: Critical History, Anthropology and Methodology

One of the primary questions students of modern yoga seek to answer is precisely how the forms of contemporary yoga practiced today are connected to pre-modern forms of yoga developed in India. To begin to answer this question and to formulate new questions, this course will trace some of the historical continuities and discontinuities between pre-modern and modern yoga practices, demonstrating that modern yoga is a complicated, transnational cultural product. We will explore the legacy of the first yoga teachers who brought yoga to America and Europe as well as yoga’s development from a historical, social, and political perspective.Students will thus take into account current scholarly debates regarding the relationship of transnational yoga to categories such as capitalism, neoliberalism, orientalism, racism, speciesism, gender, cultural appropriation, biopolitics, nationalism, and colonization. Doing so will encourage yoga practitioners to adopt new methodologies concerning the critical study of modern yoga, and will also give them an opportunity to confront and unravel saṃskāras, or acquired mental impressions and social conditionings, related to their inherited beliefs regarding the origins, history, and contemporary practice of yoga. The course is thus simultaneously intellectual as well as, from a yogic perspective, transformational.
$99.00 USD

Instructor

Self-paced

3005 | Modern Yoga, Embodied Self-Care and Healing

$99.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

3005 | Modern Yoga, Embodied Self-Care and Healing

This course builds on the understanding of modern yoga as a set of historically evolved body-mind practices and discourses that developed into an effective, late-modern self-care. Based on this definition, contemporary yoga – inspired by both pre-modern practices, such as āsana and prāṇāyāma as well as more modern practices, such as mindfulness, body awareness or relaxation techniques – can be defined as a highly efficient tool for self-care. It continues to evolve by adapting to contemporary needs and contributes to the health of late modern societies.In 1946, the World Health Organization defined “health” as complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Thus, cultural studies can and have to contribute to such a holistic understanding of health with their view on humans as biological, but likewise social, ritual, symbolic and deeply interconnected beings, very much so via their bodies.But how can this insight be brought into practice? The course examines theories on embodiment and body knowledge and enriches our existing, individual yoga practice with additional, accessible, and highly efficient tools for self-care. It helps developing a more elaborate and sophisticated language as well as a deepened understanding for embodied processes. This includes the knowledge and training of our external and internal senses, getting to know our individual body image and understanding that how we talk to ourselves matters. We investigate the body scheme, understand the importance of touch, flow-states, relaxation, and other techniques that we can employ for both, getting to know but also to transcend ourselves as well as to understand ourselves as fully interconnected beings. Knowing one’s own body in such elaborate ways can, in a yogic manner, help to unlearn embodied habits and conditioning and to gain distance from them whenever needed.
$99.00 USD

Instructor

Self-paced

3006 | Embodying Transnational Yoga

Added to cart

3006 | Embodying Transnational Yoga

"Yoga is more than āsana" is a phrase we commonly hear in the contemporary yoga world. But what does this actually mean in practice? In this course we will explore the ways yoga practitioners engage in the practice of eating, singing, and breathing. We will learn about these three transformative, yet understudied embodied yoga practices: yogic diet, music, and breathing techniques. While embracing philosophical, philological, and historical approaches to the study of these practices, this course also presents novel cultural approaches for understanding each following the methodology in Professor Miller’s book, Embodying Transnational Yoga: Eating, Singing, and Breathing in Transformation.   Students will move through three contemporary sites of yogic practice where they will learn about the social-historical and cultural forces that both shape and enable particular ways of yogic eating, singing, and breathing therein. By combining the field of yoga studies with Indian Ocean Studies, Food Studies, Ethnomusicology, and Pollution Studies, they will learn that when they embody their own yoga traditions’ transformative practices, they are also simultaneously embodying other unseen cultural and social-historical influences. Students will therefore also learn how to perform research in their own yoga tradition or community to better understand and communicate to others the often unrecognized and complex histories, social contexts, and philosophies comprising their embodied yoga practices.   Professor Miller will take students through a systematic approach for performing yoga research to help each participant identify their own key research questions concerning their yoga tradition’s embodied practices and techniques. They will also be inspired to develop their own research methods that will help them to answer these critical questions, thereby becoming a scholar of their own yoga tradition. The only prerequisite for this course is a sincere curiosity to learn about the historical sources and cultural influences shaping contemporary yoga practices whether they are eating, singing, breathing, or another transformative yogic technique of special interest.  This course is offered in collaboration with Yogic Studies

Instructor

Self-paced

3007 | Ancient and Classical Jain Yoga

$99.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

3007 | Ancient and Classical Jain Yoga

This course provides an in-depth exploration of yoga and meditation as understood within ancient and classical Jain scriptures. In Part 1: Ancient Jain Yoga, students will be introduced to foundational concepts such as āsana, or physical postures, as a tool for purification and meditation. Drawing from early Jain texts, including the Uttarādhyayanasūtra and the Daśavaikālikasūtra, students will learn how restraint of the body, mind, and speech formed early Jain definitions of yoga.  Part 2: Yoga and Meditation in Classical Jain Philosophy, transitions into an examination of the Tattvārthsūtra and its commentaries, where yoga is described as the inflow (āsrava) of karma—representing an obstacle to spiritual liberation. Students will explore the key to liberation through correct worldview, knowledge, and conduct, as well as the role of dhyāna (meditation) as both an austerity (tapas) and a means of wearing away (nirjarā) karma. Through a discussion of virtuous (dharma) and pure (śukla) meditation, the course will highlight how advanced meditation practices lead to spiritual purification and the elimination of karma, providing a comprehensive understanding of Jain yoga's ultimate aim of mokṣa, or liberation. This is designed as a two-week course that will take approximately 4 hours to complete, and includes readings and a series of 10 lectures to guide you through the intricacies of ancient and classical Jain definitions of Yoga. Learning Objectives:Learn the role of āsana (physical postures) in ancient Jain yoga as a tool for purification and meditation.Discover how restraint of body, mind, and speech formed early Jain definitions of yoga, with guidance from key ancient texts.Explore the classical Jain philosophical view of yoga as the inflow (āsrava) of karma, and see how this concept is discussed in the Tattvārthsūtra and its commentaries.Understand how meditation (dhyāna) serves as an austerity (tapas) to wear away karma (nirjarā) and how virtuous (dharma) and pure (śukla) meditation practices lead to spiritual purification and liberation (mokṣa).
$99.00 USD

Instructor

Self-paced

Professional Ethics

Self-paced
Self-paced

Social Justice

Self-paced

1007 | Peacebuilding & Interfaith Dialogue in the Jain Tradition

$99.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

1007 | Peacebuilding & Interfaith Dialogue in the Jain Tradition

In this course we will explore how we can talk with others from different religious (or non-religious) traditions in a way that fosters friendship and mutual respect. We will discuss the Jain tradition’s many resources that further the goals of peacebuilding in a pluralistic society, and what it means to create social unity despite the diversity of perspectives in various belief systems. Given the history of interfaith conflict and violence in our world, the Jain tradition has much to offer in terms of how understanding the religious (or non-religious) “other” and how dialoguing with those who have fundamentally different beliefs can be a source of friendship, harmony, and strength, rather than conflict and disunity as it so often is.We will also discuss how such interfaith dialogue can be understood not only in social terms, but in the Jain philosophical terms of anekānta-vāda, ahiṃsā, etc. such that interfaith interactions can be a means of our own personal spiritual development—as well as social unity at a time when people seem more polarized than ever. We will also give particular emphasis to how the Jain tradition has employed a shared framework of yoga to dialogue with other dharma traditions, and what this tells us today about the potential for interfaith, intercommunal peacebuilding from the perspective of the Jain tradition.
$99.00 USD

Instructor

Self-paced
Preview

2014 | Jain Teachings & Practices of Compassion

$99.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

2014 | Jain Teachings & Practices of Compassion

The Jain tradition is rightly famous for its teachings and practices of ahiṃsā, or nonviolence in thought, word, and action. Less well-known or well-understood is the Jain emphasis on karuṇā or dāyā—compassion. Even admirers of the Jain emphasis on nonviolence might ask whether the Jain ideal is merely one of avoiding harm or if there is a place for doing positive good for the welfare of other beings in this tradition. Given the strong emphasis in this tradition of not harming animals and practicing a vegetarian or vegan diet, some might also ask whether the practice of compassion specifically toward human beings is also important to Jains. The answer to both these questions is an emphatic yes. There is indeed a strong Jain emphasis on living compassionately, and specifically on treating our fellow humans with kindness. This course will explore Jain teachings and practices of compassion–including, but not limited to, compassion directed toward our fellow human beings. All suggested course readings are provided as links and pdfs throughout the course. Learning Objectives:Understand the foundations of compassionate living according to Jain teachings.Learn how the Jain tradition provides rich philosophical resources that encourage us to live compassionately.Learn how teachings and practices of compassion are lived out in the Jain community.
Available for self-study starting Feb 3, 2025.
$99.00 USD

Instructor

Preview
Preview
Preview

2017 | Compassion to Self & Others in Jain Householder Life

$99.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

2017 | Compassion to Self & Others in Jain Householder Life

Jain teachers have elaborated on sixty variants of the pan-Indian principle of ahiṃsā (non-violence) in their canonical texts. While physical non-violence—especially the avoidance of harm to any sentient being—is widely recognized both within and beyond the Jain tradition, other dimensions of ahiṃsā focus on fostering compassionate treatment toward not only one’s self but also to fellow humans. This course draws from the Śrāvaka Saṃbodha, a handbook on lay practices compiled by Ācārya Tulasī (1914–1997). This text outlines the qualities (guṇas) of lay disciples and provides practical, didactic guidance on religious conduct, encapsulating the ‘Jain way of life.’ Through these teachings, students will explore how responsible householders can contribute to a compassionate and harmonious society by integrating Jain ethical principles into everyday life. Course readings will be made available as links and PDFs throughout the duration of the course.Learning Objectives:Examine the Śrāvaka Saṃbodha, a poetic text written in the vernacular (Hindi) and assess its contemporary relevance to ethical and compassionate living.Understand the multifaceted meanings of compassion within Jain thought and analyze how it transcends conventional notions of kindness and non-violence.Evaluate, using interdisciplinary approaches from social sciences (such as history and linguistics), the various methods Ācārya Tulasī employs in constructing and communicating the qualities of householders in Jainism
Available for self-study on Monday, May 5, 2025.
$99.00 USD

Instructor

Preview

2018 | Human Security as Compassion: Jain Perspectives on Global Challenges

$99.00 USD
Learn More
Added to cart

2018 | Human Security as Compassion: Jain Perspectives on Global Challenges

Feeling safe is one of our biggest needs. But sometimes it seems like we live in an age of uncertainty and increasingly complex global crises. What then does it take today for human beings to feel and be safe?In this course you will learn how Jain thought and practice can speak to each of the seven areas of human security: Personal Security - Health Security – Food Security –Environmental Security – Economic Security – Political Security – Community Security. Human security is not merely a matter of technology and logistics and a task for states and big organizations. It can also be approached as value-based: helping others to feel and be safe as an act of compassion. Underlying the concept of human security is the desire to understand what each individual human being needs to be able to flourish and live a meaningful life. In the course we will discuss different ways of answering this question, from the United Nations sustainable development goals to the wisdom of the Jain scriptures, and how they can inform each other to address today’s global challenges. All suggested course readings are provided as links and pdfs throughout the course.Learning Objectives:Understand concepts connected to human security.Learn about compassionate Jain approaches to today’s global security challenges in both theory and practice.Develop the way you think about security, both your own and that of others.Get inspired for compassionate action that makes a difference in people’s lives.
Available for self-study starting June 2, 2025.
$99.00 USD

Instructor

Preview
Preview

2020 | Compassionate Food Systems for Planetary Healing

Added to cart

2020 | Compassionate Food Systems for Planetary Healing

The global food system is the single largest contributor to the ongoing ecological crisis and humanitarian crisis, impacting every one of the six planetary boundary transgressions that the Stockholm Resilience Center identified in 2023. This necessitates a transformation to a compassionate food system that meets the nutritional needs of all human beings while ensuring that these planetary boundary transgressions are mitigated. In this class, we will examine the architectures of compassionate food systems and how they can be implemented as the foundation of a holistic transformation from the climate heating phase to the climate healing phase of our civilization.Learning Objectives:By the end of this course, students will be able to:Understand the Urgency: Articulate the critical need for transforming foodsystems to address ecological crises and social injustices, including theimplications of animal agriculture on planetary boundaries and human health.Define Compassionate Food Systems: Explain the principles of acompassionate food system and its potential to provide nourishing food for allwhile operating within the limits of planetary boundaries.Analyze Implementation Strategies: Assess the political and economictransformations required to implement compassionate food systems effectively.Facilitate Transformation: Identify grassroots initiatives and strategies toovercome resistance and facilitate the transition to a compassionate foodsystem.
Available for self-study on Monday, August 4, 2025.
Free

Instructor